GCE O Level Geography - Tourism

What is a tourist?

A tourist is a person who makes a trip outside his/her usual environment for leisure or personal purposes. The trip may be completed within the same day or may last several days, requiring overnight stays.

What is a tourist system?

A tourism system comprises 3 interconnected components:

1) Tourist generating region: The region where the tourist come from, and where people and businesses that offer tourism products and experiences (such as tour operators) may be based.

2) Transit route: The region or route a tourist travels through to reach their destination. This route links the tourist destination regions to the tourist generating regions. They include stopover points which might be used for convenience or because of the existence of attractions.

3) Tourist destination region: The region which attracts tourists. Attractions, amenities and facilities which cater to the needs of tourists are located here. It is also the region that experiences the consequences of tourism development

These components function to enable people to travel from the tourism generating to destination regions. They are interconnected: each component can affect and be affected by other components.

How do the availability of transit routes influence travel between regions?

The availability of transit routes influences the volume and direction of travel.

- When there are limited or inconvenient transit routes, the volume of travel between the regions might be low.

- When there are more transit routes available, the volume of travel might increase.

- When there are convenient or attractive travel routes available, the direction of travel might change. Tourists might choose to travel via the transit route instead of travelling directly to the destination region.

For example: The lack of direct flights between Singapore and Brazil and the inconvenient travel routes between them result in fewer tourists travelling from Singapore to Brazil

For example, Some travellers may find the eight-hour direct flight from New Dehli, India to Singapore too tiring. Also, there may not be direct flights that suit their schedules. Hence, they may choose to take a shorter flight to Bangkok, Thailand (transit route) before continuing their journey to Singapore.

What is the relationship between tourist generating and destination regions?

1. The movement of tourists from generating to destination regions occur due to a combination of push-pull factors.

Tourist generating regions create push factors(Stressful work environments, Unpleasant living environments including overcrowding and pollution and the lack of recreational and entertainment options), while destination regions create pull factors(Places of scenic beauty, Special events such as concerts or festivals, Attractions, facilities and amenities that provide positive experiences)

The interplay between the push and pull factors results in tourists developing the motivation or need to travel.

Each tourist's decision to travel is based on different combinations of push-pull factors.

2. Tourists, businesses, and organisations in tourist generating and destination regions are mutually dependent:

For instance, Tourists require the services of tour operators in tour destination regions to plan their trips

Tour operators depend on hotels in tourist destination regions to plan the accommodation for tourists. Hotels depend on tour operators to direct tourists to them in order to earn profits.

How does tourism interact with nature, communities and economies within the local environment and beyond?

Tourism activities can interact with nature, communities and economies in the local environment in positive or negative ways. For instance, when tourists visit a nature park and irresponsibly leave behind waste, the environment may be degraded.

When tourists pay local villagers to teach them how to create traditional pottery, they generate revenue for the villagers. This contributes to the local economy and helps to preserve local tradition.

Tourism is now a global industry and influences local economies and beyond.

Tourism contributed more than US$4 trillion to the global economy in 2020. Tourism activities also impact environments beyond the tourism destination. Tourism contributes to 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to climate change and its impacts on environments.

Changes in nature, communities and economies within environment can affect the tourism system, and vice versa.

Events occurring in tourist generating regions may affect the desire to travel among potential tourists, affecting the number of tourists travelling through transit routes and arriving at destination regions.

Similarly new attractions at a tourist destination region where returning tourists share positive experiences at the new attraction. There is an increase in motivation to travel to the destination region. The number of travellers increases. Greater incomes are generated at both transit routes and destination regions

How does an increase in the motivation to travel lead to the growth of tourism?

The motivation to travel refers to a set of needs that can be satisfied by travelling. These needs are created by a combination of push and pull factors at tourist generating and destination regions respectively. The motivation to travel has increased due to globalisation. This is due to greater access to media sources. People are thus becoming more aware of different travel opportunities.

The need for relaxation (how motivation to travel led to the growth of tourism)

The increasing pressures of work and hectic lifestyles have increased people's motivation to travel to relieve stress. Increasingly, many see travel as a way to rest and rejuvenate. Increasingly, many see travel as a way to rest and rejuvenate. People travel to different destinations and engage in different tourist activities to relax:

- Some seek nature to escape their urban environment, rest and enjoy scenic views. For example, some seek nature to escape their urban environments, rest, and enjoy scenic views. For example, a survey found that one of the main reasons British tourists visit Phuket, Thailand, an island famous for its scenic beaches, is to rest and relax.

Others prefer recreational activities like visiting theme parks which provide them with a different routine from their daily lives, and enable them to escape from their stress and worries. For example, Universal Studios Singapore is a theme park that features rides, shows and attractions, immersing visitors in a completely setting from their usual lives. In 2019, the theme park welcomed more than 18 million visitors.

The need to achieve personal growth and self-fulfilment (how motivation to travel led to the growth of tourism)

People increasingly consider traveling as a way for self-growth and to achieve their fullest potential. Travelling allows them to develop themselves further by learning something new or improving their existing knowledge and skills. Hence, they may choose a travel destination where they may pick up a new skill such as cooking local cuisines or farming by learning methods from the locals.

For example, many cooking schools have sprung up in Bali to cater to tourist's desire to learn more about Balinese cuisine.

For example, in pilgrimage tourism, tourists travel to sacred sites to learn more faiths and grow spiritually. Every year, more than 2 million Muslims travel to Mecca in Saudi Arabia for the pilgrimage, where they perform a series of rituals for spiritual growth.

Some also participate in these activities, they feel that they are being stretched physically and emotionally, and therefore achieve personal growth. In the last decades, the number of tourists climbing Mount Everest has increased steadily, as they are motivated to challenge themselves and achieve their fullest potential.

For example: In the last few decades, the number of tourists climbing Mount Everest increased steadily, as they are motivated to challenge themselves and achieve their fullest potential.

The need to discover unique travel experience (how motivation to travel lead to the growth of tourism)

Some people travel to gain unique travel experiences in order to satisfy their curiosity about the world. Travelling allows them to explore different environments and cultures that are not widely known. They often seek places that are less travelled to. They may also participate in special or uncommon tourism activities such as trekking along the slopes of a volcano. Social media has raised interest in unique destinations and activities, especially among younger travellers. With globalisation, vast transport networks are connecting remote places to major cities, making them more accessible. Hence, remote and unique places around the world are experiencing a rise in tourism numbers. For example, tourism numbers in Antartica have increased significantly in the last 2 decades. Many of these tourists seek to satisfy their curiosity about one of the world's last uninhabited regions.

How does an increase in mobility lead to the growth of tourism?

Mobility in travel refers to the ability to move around easily and conveniently to tourist destinations. In many countries, mobility in travel has increased due to:

1. Expansion of public services and infrastructure

2. Introduction of new modes of travel

3. Increase in private car ownership

Expansion of public transport services and infrastructure (how the increase in mobility lead to the growth of tourism)

In recent years, more countries are constructing transport infrastructure such as roads, railways and airports. Connectivity with different parts of a country, as well as between countries has increased. Tourist can travel more places in much shorter times. For example, the opening of Changi Airport's Terminal 4 means that there can be more flights from other parts of Asia to Singapore, making travel within the region more convenient.

Many countries have also expanded their network of public transport services by increasing their network of public transport services by increasing the number of public bus and train routes. Travelling within the destination region has become more convenient for tourists, leading to tourism growth

For example, Public Transport services and infrastructure in Singapore have greatly expanded in recent decades. For instance, the Downtown MRT line was developed to increase the accessibility of some tourist attraction such as Gardens by the Bay. There are also clear maps and signages available in multiple languages at MRT stations which helps tourists navigate.

Introduction of new modes of travel (How the increase in mobility lead to the growth of tourism)

The rapid development of transportation technology has resulted in new modes of travel. Tourists can now travel faster and further via land, sea and air transport.

For example, in 1965, a conventional bullet train would take 6 hours and 40 minutes to travel from Tokyo to Osaka. With the introduction of the Shinkansen or bullet train, the trip has been shortened to 3 hours and 10 minutes. This has significantly increased tourism in cities that are more fuel-efficient. This has resulted in:

- Reduced travelling time

- Increased convenience of travelling long distances

- Lower travelling costs

For example, in the early 1950s, a commercial flight from Singapore to London would take 2 to 4 days with many stopovers in between. Today, air travel would take 14 hours without any stopover.

Increased private car ownership (How does an increase in mobility lead to the growth of tourism)

Private car ownership allows families to travel comfortably and conveniently in their own vehicles to nearby attractions for leisure. Travelling in private cars allows for more freedom in the number of destinations one can visit and the time spent at each destination. The increase in private car ownership has especially boosted domestic tourism

For example, in the 1950s, private car ownership in the US increased significantly, resulting in an increase in domestic tourism. As American families travelled around the country in cars, the hotel and motel business expanded quickly as well.

For example, car ownership in India has increased exponentially. As a result, Srinagar City, which is known for its holy sites and snow-clad mountain peaks, experiences an influx of people visiting it by car in summer.

Does everyone have the same motivation to travel?

Individual have varying needs and hence, the motivation to travel is unique. Some travel for relaxation and others travel to fulfil their curiosity about some places that are less commonly visited. In addition tourists are often motivated to travel to fulfil not just 1 need, but a mix of needs. Often, when tourists visit a destination, they aim to fulfil different rather than just one need. Tourists will therefore, participate in different activities in one destination to cater to their different travel motivations.

For example, scuba diving in Bali Indonesia can fulfill a tourist's need for relaxation as well as the need to discover unique travel experiences.

Different tourists activities can fulfil the needs of tourists differently.

For example, Whale watching might be a way for some tourists to relax, while for others, it is about seeking self-fulfilment by getting to experience the sightings of these majestic animals first-hand.

How does an increase in ability to travel lead to the growth of tourism?

The ability to travel refers to the conditions that allow an individual to make trips. These include

1. Increase in disposable incomes

2. Increase in leisure time

3. Business innovations in the tourism-related industry

4. Lower transport costs

5. Lower accommodation costs

Increase in disposable incomes (How the increase in ability to travel lead to the growth in tourism)

After World War 11, economic development led to an increase in disposable incomes in North America, Western Europe and Japan. This resulted in greater spending on travel, fueling tourism growth .

Today, in rapidly developing countries like China and India, a fast-growing middle class with increased disposable incomes is causing a large demand for tourism

For example, in China, as GDP quadrupled, international tourism grew from about 9 million departures in 1999, to 154 million departures in 2019.

Increase in leisure time (How the increase in ability to travel lead to the growth in tourism)

Lesiure time refers to the time when people are free from work responsibilities

Since the 1950s, in both developed and less developed countries, governments and businesses have given people more leisure time. This comes in the form of increased paid leave, more public holidays and shorter working weeks, which gives people more time to travel.

The increase in paid leave also increases the ability of workers to finance their travel.

For example, in 2015, the Chinese government encouraged employers to give workers half a day leave on Fridays during the summer months to help boost domestic tourism

Business innovations in the tourism-related industry (How the increase in ability to travel lead to the growth in tourism)

The ability to travel is made possible by business innovations that provide value-for-money experiences. With business offering more affordable travel options, demand for tourism has increased.

For example, Thomas Cook invented tour packages during the industrial revolution and was credited with bringing tourism to the masses. Such tour packages made travel affordable in the United Kingdom. This is because tour companies purchase transport and accommodation in bulk, often at discounted prices, and then sell them off through tour packages at competitive prices.

Today, tour operators are increasingly replaced by a variety of websites and application that provide more personalised and value-for-money travel experiences.

For example, Websites such as Expedia and Trivago have search engines specifically for travellers to compare trip reviews and prices, and book their trips directly on the website. Often, these websites offer promotional prices for transport and accommodation

Lower transport costs (How the increase in ability to travel lead to the growth in tourism)

International tourism relies heavily on air transport, which has become increasingly affordable

Over the years, air fares have significantly dropped, especially with the emergence of budget airlines. Budget airlines offer air tickets at significantly lower prices, lowering transport costs, especially for international travel. They do this by using fuel-efficient planes, which reduce fuel costs, and by flying to airports with cheaper fees.

For example, Budget Airlines such as AirAsia, which offer significantly lower prices have become increasingly popular to travel within Southeast Asia.

Lower accommodation costs (How the increase in ability to travel lead to the growth in tourism)

Over the years, the variety of accommodation types has increased from rented properties to hotels and bed and breakfast stays. Business innovations such as AirBnB has made it possible for property owners to rent their properties out to tourists, at different prices. This wide variety caters to a range of different budgets, making tourism with lower accommodation costs possible.

This has enabled travelling to be more affordable.

For example, AirBnB is a business innovation that offers options for accommodation, often at competitive prices. It connects people who want to rent their homes out to tourists, increasing the variety of accommodation that tourists can stay in. In 2019, it was estimated that more than 2 million people stayed in an AirBnB property everyday.

What are the stages of tourism development

The tourism industry is very dynamic. Tourism destinations evolve and change over time. They tend to progress through six different stages. (Exploration, Involvement, Development, Consolidation, Stagnation, Decline or Rejuvenation)

As it progresses, its key features and the number of tourists arrivals evolve:

- A tourist destination grows in popularity when investors, tourists and tour operators move into a newly discovered location

- Over time, however, it may lose its popularity and start to decline.

- The destination can regain popularity if measures are taken to rejuvenate the place.

- Otherwise, the tourist destination declines

Not all destinations go through all six stages in a linear fashion.

- While some destinations skip certain stages, in general, most tourist destination follow similar stages of development.

What is the exploration stage?

A small number of adventurous tourists travel there individually. Visits are irregular and do not occur throughout the year.

Tourists make minimal contributions to the local economy.

The destination possesses:

- Natural attractions or features which offer scenic views or an attractive unspoilt natural environment.

- Cultural attraction with landmarks of historical or heritage value.

- Lack of facilities (e.g. car parks, roads, toilets) for tourists.

For example, Jaco Island in Timor Leste, only a few international visitors due to inaccessible location and lack of tourism facilities. Houses the only national park in the country with attractive beaches.

What is the involvement stage?

There is an increase in tourist arrivals due to an increase in advertisements and publicity. Tourists arrivals vary at different times of the year. Peak and non-peak tourists seasons develop.

Tourists contributions to the local economy begin to grow.

The destination experiences a rise in goods, services and facilities to cater to tourists. Good and services are usually provided by locals. Amenities and facilities, requested by locals, are usually built and maintained by the local authorities.

For example, Kuang Si Waterfalls in Laos: Authorities invested money to improve facilities at the waterfall

Increase in number of travel agencies and transport providers to enhance accessibility from the town area to the waterfall. There is an increase in tourists visiting the waterfalls.

What is the development stage?

Tourist arrivals increases rapidly.

Tourism sector employs a significant number of workers, contributing significantly to the local economy.

- Labour from other parts of the country and other countries will be attracted to work in the booming tourism sector of the destination

The number of attractions and facilities built increase rapidly.

- Large businesses build more elaborate facilities and man-made attractions.

Heavy advertising of the destination.

Increase in large and medium businesses in retail and leisure.

Destination becomes recognised as a tourist destination

For example, Phu Quoc Island in Vietnam.

It received investments to build an international airport and seaport. It also attracted major businesses within the tourism industry.

In 2019, it had a rapid increase in tourist arrivals to 5.1 million.

Tourism sector employs a significant proportion of the local population.

What is the consolidation stage?

Total annual tourists arrivals at the destination outnumber the local population. Growth in annual tourist arrivals starts to slow.

Tourism industry:

- Dominates the local economy

- Continue to employ a significant number of workers and contributes significantly to the local economy.

Slowing down in the number of attraction and facilities built. Majority of tourist facilities and hotels are often owned by large multinational companies, supporting large numbers of tourists.

For example, Goa in India, the tourism sector employs a significant proportion of the local population. In 2019, foreign tourists (7 million) outnumber locals (1.5 million).

Many large multinational companies such as Marriott International own hotels such as the Westin Goa and the W Goa.

Stagnation stage

Tourist arrivals have peaked and begin to decline as the destination has reached or exceeded its carrying capacity.

Tourist arrivals exceed the maximum number of people the environment can accommodate, resulting in negative effects.

Contributions to the economy start to stagnate.

Destination may no longer be attractive. Facilities and attractions may decline as they become old and run down.

Tourists start to feel that the location no longer has anything to offer them in terms of experience or interest.

For example, Hawaii, USA(1990s to 2000s), Tourism arrivals and expenditures began to decline in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Waikiki, a major tourism spot, had become very crowded and the facilities and attractions were getting old and run down and in need of major renovations.

What is the decline stage (Post-stagnation stage)

Tourist arrivals decline significantly if no steps are taken are taken to revive the destination.

Contributions to the economy decline significantly.

Local businesses are affected and may close, negatively affecting the economy and livelihoods. Less money available to maintain and improve facilities. Facilities deteriorate further, leading to fewer tourists. This stage may not occur for all destinations

For example, Blackpool, UK (1990s), Once a popular coastal destination tourist destination. It has lost its attractiveness due to competition from other European coastal locations with more competitive pricing. With fewer tourists, many old inns either deteriorated or had to shut down.

What is the rejuvenation stage? (Post-stagnation stage)

Destination becomes more attractive again by 1. New investments to develop attractions and facilities and 2. the re-branding of the destination leading to an increase in tourist arrivals again.

Contributions to the economy increase again.

Funding provided to:

-Redevelop the area (e.g building of new facilities and attractions) making it more attractive.

-Advertise the revamped tourist destination

Blackpool, UK (present):

Local authorities engaged the private sector to invest £300 million to build Blackpool Central, a world-class leisure development which aims to attract 600,000 visitors annually.

Re-marketed itself as a Muslim-friendly and disabled-friendly destination

What are the different personality types of tourists?

There is a spectrum of personality characteristics. On the extreme ends of the spectrum, there are 2 broad personality ''types''

1. Dependables

2. Venturers

The direction of influence is towards the dependables

Only a small group of tourists belong to these extreme ends. Most tourists would fall between these extremes, possessing a mixture of personality characteristics from both extremes.

Dependables (Individuals who make so much of their daily lives predictable)

More cautious about spending money.

Guided by authority figures in making travel decisions.

Follow travel trends set by other Venturers and public personalities.

Prefer structure and routine. Travel in groups as they like to feel comfortable and secure. Visit popular and familiar destinations which have well-developed tourism facilities and amenities for their convenience. More likely to return to the same place again. Hence, they prefer mass tourism because of the predictability and routine nature of the activities.

Venturers (Individuals who reach out and explore the world in all of its diversity)

Spend more money readily.

Guided by their personal judgement rather than authority figures in making travel decisions.

Prefer to be spontaneous and have a diversity of activities.

Travel alone

Explore less-developed, unique places where they can participate in new experiences and new activities even if it is less convenient. Often, they set travel trends for others.

More likely to visit new places each time they travel.

Hence, they prefer to make their own travel plans, and often opt for niche tourism

How do personality characteristics influence travel patterns?

Personaility characteristics of tourists can determine travel preferences and patterns such as the choice of destinations and tourist activities.

This is because the features of a tourist destination may appeal more to specific personality characteristics.

Tourist activities that cater to the preferences of certain personality characteristics may only be found in certain destinations.

For example, Mongolia is just beginning to develop its tourism industry, and mostly attracts Venturer-type tourists who are comfortable with fewer tourist amenities. There are some dependable-type tourists who visit Mongolia but they tend to visit urban attractions. Venturer-type tourists in Mongolia tend to visit more underdeveloped areas, for instance, the plains or grasslands, which may not have convenient tourist facilities.

How do personality characteristics influence the development of tourist destinations?

Personality characteristics can influence the way a tourist destination evolves over time.

A destination may be more appealing to certain personality characteristics.

- Tourist destinations are dynamic and constantly evolving.

- As they evolve, their features change, and the type of tourists they attract will also change.

- As Venturer-type tourists often set travel trends and therefore influence the travel decisions of Dependable-type tourists, the tourist destination may eventually lean from a Venturer-type one to a Dependable-type one.

Planners and stakeholders can develop tourist attractions in a way that attracts certain personality characteristics.

For instance, in order to attract more Dependable-type tourists, more facilities and amenities that offer convenience can be developed.

For example, Costa Rica used to attract mainly Venturer-type tourist. However it has evolved over time and began attracting more tourists who lean towards being more Dependable-type. Hence, Costa Rica began losing its appeal to Venturer-type tourists.

To remain profitable, tourist authorities were advised to protect its natural environments as well as promote adventurous tourist activities to attract Venturer-type tourists. By recognising the personality characteristics of tourists and the tourism decisions they make, planning authorities can then decide how to promote and develop Costa Rica as a tourist destination. This example shows that what may start off as a Venturer-type destination may eventually lean towards becoming a Dependable-type one.

How is globalisation influencing trends in international tourism?

1. Globalisation is causing the continued growth of international tourism

In recent decades, the increasing pace of globalisation has boosted the growth in international tourism by:

- Increasing the ability to travel:

People now have the ability to search for and buy tourism-related services from anywhere. This results in greater competition among businesses, which creates a greater incentive to offer value-for-money travel experiences to attract more people. As a result, tourists enjoy more affordable tours, increasing tourists ability to travel.

- Increasing the motivation to travel

People have greater access to new ideas on tourism destination and experiences from all over the world, especially through new online media (e.g social media and the internet). This increases tourists' motivation to travel.

For example, London's Kings Cross Station has become popular with tourists due to the international airing of the Harry Potter film series.

Increasing mobility in travel

As places become more connected via different transport modes, travelling has become more convenient, increasing tourists' mobility to travel. Tourists can find more direct flights between cities

2. Tourist generating and destination regions have become more diverse

European countries are still the most popular tourist destinations.

However, developing countries, especially in the Asia Pacific region have become increasingly popular with tourists. For example, China, Thailand and Malaysia are among the world's most popular tourist destinations today.

Most tourists come from the world's most developed countries in Europe and North America. However, increasingly, more international tourists are coming from the rapidly developing countries in the Asia Pacific and South America, such as China, India and Brazil

How is the demand for tourism changing?

1. Increasing popularity of lesser known destinations that were not previously popular or easily accesible

Tourists visit such destination to fullfil their need for unique experiences. This may include remote destinations( e.g Antartica) or second cities(Manchester instead of London) to not just fullfill their need for unique experiences in less crowded environments but also lowers travelling costs and allows traditional tourist hotspots to avoid exceeding their carrying capacity.

2. Emergence of new experiences including:

- Adventure: travelling to natural environments to participate in challenging physical activities to achieve personal growth and self-fullfillment --> e.g trekking at Mount Everest

- Heritage: travelling and participate in activities to experience its culture and learn about its history. By experiencing the culture and learning about the history of the place, heritage tourists can fullfil their need for unique travel experiences and understand the rich and diverse global cultures outside of their home country. For example, the ancient city of Machu Pichu in Peru

- Sports: Tourists either observe to seek enjoyment and escape the stress of work or participate to achieve personal growth and self fullfillment. For example, the English Premier league, Manchester

- Health: To enhance their physical, mental or spirutual wellness seeking medical procedures as they are relatively cheaper than those in their home countries, have a shorter waiting time and may not be available in their home country. These medical procedures may contribute to an improved sense of self-fullfilment as it improves tourist's well-being and self-esteem and may do it to relax(yoga retreats--Bali and hot spring tours) E.g South Korea -- cosmetic and non-cosmetic

How is the supply of tourism changing?

1. Small specialist operators( -- supplying niche travel for specific places and not widely purchased but increasingly popular and is usually customisable e.g Quark expeditions to the Arctic and Antartica) are adding onto the services of mass tour operators(supply tour packages to large groups of people and often include other services(transport and accomodation), cheaper, convenient, with trust. e.g Klook in Singapore)

2. Tourism market is changing from traditional print and broadcast media to new online media

For example, it has been found that up to 70% of tourists use the internet to research and plan their trips.

For example, many tourism-related businesses are turning to online media to market their tourism services such as Klook which promoted itself on Facebook and Instagram

How does tourism impact the economy?

Tourism positively affects the economies of tourist generating and destination as both regions are interdependent in the tourism system. Economic benefits and costs of tourism are uneven across the world, affecting both generating and destination regions differently. Generally, economic benefits and costs are more significantly felt in the destination regions.

What are the positive economic impacts brought about by tourism?

1. Employment opportunities in formal and informal tourism sectors.

- Tourism industry is labour intensive.

- It creates a large number and wide range of employment opportunities for people of varying skills in both generating and destination regions:

- Transport

- Accomodation

- Leisure activities

Jobs created can be categorised into formal employment(e.g fixed hours and pay with a written contract and benefits and contribute to income tax) and informal employment(work irregular hours and pay and lack a written contract and do not contribute to income tax)

Therefore, the tourism industry could reduce national unemployment rates:

- In 2019, tourism accounted for 330 million formal jobs worldwide representing about 10 percent of the global workforce. Between 2015 and 2019, about 25% of all new jobs were created by the tourism industry.

2. Income generation from tourists' spending on consumer goods and services:

- Tourism generates income for locals and governments in tourist destination regions. These can be used to invest in improving infrastructure and pay for education and health services, hence increasing the country's standard of living.

Through the generation of income, tourism can alleviate poverty as it can transfer wealth from wealthier to poorer regions. For example, in the 1980s, Maldives was one of the world's poorest countries. Today, its economy has grown due to the tourism opportunities offered by its natural landscape, resulting in low poverty rates.

What are the negative economic impacts brought about by tourism?

1. Economic leakages resulting in less tourism revenue

-An economic leakage happens when revenue generated by tourism in the destination region is lost to the economies of other countries. This may occur when tourist businesses in the destination region pay for the imports of goods and services to support the tourism industry(e.g Money spent on importing food from overseas)

In some developing countries, economic leakages may be so significant that it can wipe out the economic benefits of tourism

For example, according to the United Nations Environment Programme, for every US$100 spend by a tourist on a holiday to a developing country, only US$5 remains in the local host community.

2. Overdependence on tourism, which increases vulnerability to a sudden fall in tourist numbers

It occurs due to unexpected events, causing the economic benefits from tourism to fluctuate and affect the livelihoods of people. These events include:

Natural Disasters(in 2017 parts of the Carribean Islands were struck by a succession of powerful hurricanes. About 95% of the buildings there were destroyed resulting in 1 million fewer tourist arrivals and an estimated loss of revenue of over US$700 million,

Unfavourable political situations(in 2020, there were protests in Thailand against military rule. Several countries issued travel advisories to its citizens to dissuade them from visiting Thailand during that period of time, which reduced tourist arrivals,

Economic Downturn(The maldives, which is highly dependent on tourism, suffered a drop of 4% in tourism arrivals in 2009 due to the global economic crisis then)

Outbreak of diseases

With disease outbreaks, people may postpone or cancel travel plans out of fear for their safety. Governments may choose to close off the affected area or issue travel advisories to discourage travelling to the affected areas to ensure safety, reducing the number of tourist arrivals. For example, the COVID-19 pandemic which started in 2019 infected over 205 million people and caused over 4 million deaths. Many countries responded by going into 'lockdown', causing international travel to shut down. In the first half of 2020 alone, tourist arrivals globally fell by more than 65%. In the Maldives, tourism arrivals in 2020 was only about a third of arrivals in 2019.

How does tourism impact society and culture?

Tourism affects society both positively and negatively. These are known as the social impacts of tourism.

What are the positive social impacts of tourism?

1. Cultural preservation

Many tourists are interested to visit places with rich cultural heritage and are keen to learn more or participate in activities and festivals, leading to cultural preservation from an incentive to protect traditional cultural practices and art forms. Planning authorities may also invest money to encourage such traditional practices by building museums or giving grants for art forms to increase their appeal to tourists, enhancing preservation efforts, which also builds locals' sense of belonging to their community

For example, shadow puppetry in China can now be watched in VR to preserve and revitalise the art form.

2. Enhancing cultural ecosystem services

Protecting the environment for tourist activities and experiences can enhance cultural ecosystem services offered by nature. This provides tourists and locals with aesthetic, educational, recreational and spiritual benefits.

For example, in Sanjiangyuan National Park in China, sightings of rare snow leopards have drawn tourists. The villagers in Angsai village run a community-based tourism programme which allows tourists to stay with local families and have a chance to view these snow leopards in the wild. Sanjiangyuan National Park provides cultural ecosystem services such as Aesthetic benefits(appreciating the beauty of the national park), Educational benefits(learning about the conservation of snow leopards and experience the traditional culture of the villagers), recreational benefits(Locals and tourists get to get engage in recreational activities that may offer relaxation) and spiritual benefits(for buddhists locals as snow leopards are sacred to them).

What are the negative social impacts of tourism?

1. Commodification of cultural practices and art forms

Cultural rituals may be exaggerated, staged, or condensed to suit the needs and requests of tourists and art forms may be mass produced by tourists. Conflict among locals may occur about the situation.

For example, in Kenya, many national parks are the traditional homes of African tribes, such as the Maasai, who have a rich cultural heritage, are forced to exaggerate events at hotels organised by tour companies, preventing tourists from interacting with them in a meaningful way and they may not be satisfied as it may not be what the expected.

For example, in Vancouver, Canada, totem poles have been commodifed and are widely available for tourists to purchase as souvenirs but are mostly inauthentic pieces created without any collaboration with the native tribes, creating tension between locals who sell souvenirs for a living and locals who feel that their culture is being diluted.

2. Cultural clashes.

For example, in Hawaii, USA, it was found that most locals did not wish for Hawaii to be opened up to the public after months of COVID-19 lockdown as tourists did not follow public safety guidlines such as as wearing masks properly and always have felt that tourists do not respect the indigenous Hawaiian culture.

3. Rise in crimes

Destination regions may experience a rise in crime rates, such as pickpocketing, as tourists often carry large sums of money and other valuables, making them lucrative targets. Tourists may also find them being targeted, if negative sentiments from some locals towards them continue to build up, increasing crime rates, making locals feel less safe.

For example, in 2017, a tourist bus in Barcelona, Spain was attacked by anti-tourist protestors who punctured the tyres and sprayed anti-tourism graffiti on the bus.

How may the nature of interaction between local communities and tourists influence the impacts of tourism?

Tourists and local communities at tourist destination regions mutually affect each other and encounters with each other determine the nature of the social impacts of tourism. The relationships between tourists and local communities are often unequal because the tourism industry tends to focus more on the needs and wants of the tourists over the locals and they also have to accomodate tourists . The greater the difference in power, the more likely that negative social impacts will occur.

For example, in Thailand, tourists have to pay to enter the villages of the Kayan Lahwi women who traditionally wear gold coils around their necks. Some women are happy to showcase their culture and earn money this way but some feel exploited by the tourism industry as some tourists view these women as exhibits that they have paid to view and pose with, and sometimes take photographs of them without their permission and since they are reliant on tourism revenue, the women may have no choice but to let themselves be photographed.

However the local communities may also depend on tourism and they would be seriously disadvantaged if tourists stopped visiting.

How does tourism impact the environment?

Nature provides important provisioning (e.g provides freshwater and food for people) and regulating ecosystem services (e.g protecting air and water quality).

Environmental degradation due to tourism may bring about negative environmental impacts, and affect ecosystem services (e.g. reduced supply of freshwater and food, and lower air and water quality). The impacts are mostly felt by the tourist destination region where local communities reside.

How does tourism bring about positive environmental impacts?

1. Conservation of natural environments and preservation of biodiversity

Local communities and governments in destination MAINTAIN a pristine environment to attract tourists to visit. Tourism revenue generated in the destination regions may be used to fund the protection of the aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem, protecting biodiversity. This can be done through establishing protected areas or National Parks to restrict development so habitats are undisturbed, employing and training specialised staff to run these parks to care for these ecosystems and setting up environmental education programmes for tourists to encourage them to care for these ecosystems.

For example, an entrance fee of US$100 is charged to visitors entering the Galapagos National Park in Ecuador and this revenue generated from the fees are channeled to the conservation and upkeep of the park including hiring of park rangers.

2. Restoration of degraded aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.

Aquatic and terrestrial sites have the potential to be tourist attraction, providing motivation to restore degraded aquatic and terrestrial have the potential to be tourist attractions, providing motivation to RESTORE degraded aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems to create new marine or national parks and cane dbe done by stopping and reversing degradation to these ecosystems through reforestation. For example, in Maurities and Seychelles, coral reefs have been negatively affected by overfishing, unsustainable fishing methods and improper waste disposal but economically significant for local livelihoods, as well as the tourism industry and a regional project lead by the United Nations Development Fund has been initiated to restore them.

How does tourism bring about negative environmental impacts? (Pollution)

Greenhouse emissions: Travelling by air, sea, or land requires large amounts of fossil fuels to be burned, which generates a significant amount of greenhouse gases. Services such as air-conditioned accommodation can also contribute to the increase of greenhouse gases, which can lead to enhanced greenhouse effect. Air pollutants such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide can also cause respiratory illnesses such as asthma. Often, air pollution can circulate over a large area, and impact areas and people far from where it originated.

Inadequate sewage facilities and improper waste disposal: The tourism industry generates a significant amount of waste and in some places lacking proper waste disposal systems, tourists may leave litter behind, leading to environmental degradation such as land(climbers polluting Mount Everest by discarding tents, food containers and even human waste, where sometimes the chemicals from the trash can contaminate the soil and groundwater, leading to land and water pollution) and water(Boracay Island's lack of a sewage connection, businesses release water into sea) pollution

How does tourism bring about negative environmental impacts? (Depletion of natural resources and threats to wildlife habitats)

Depletion in natural resources:

Tourism may result in an overuse of natural resources such as water, leading to depletion of natural resources. These may lead to negative environmental impacts which may harm people and terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

For example, the booming tourist industry in Bali draws approximately 3 million litres of water per day with hotels and resorts using groundwater and public water supply. This leads to the rivers in the regions drying up, reducing water resource availability for locals and animals leading to increasing water prices and agriculture becoming unprofitable resulting in local farmers experiencing a loss in livelihood.

Threats to wildlife habitats:

The construction of tourist facilities may encroach on natural areas, destroying natural environments and threatening wildlife habitats. Careless tourists may trample on plants or make too much noise, disturbing and frightening the animals.

For example, in the Maldives, the government built large-scale facilities for accommodation, food and recreation for tourists, threatening the coastal environment. Rock and sand are dumped into the sea during construction, covering and suffocating the corals with it being observed a lack of big corals near the newer resorts. In the long term, animals dependent on the coral reefs for food and shelter, such as reef sharks, may lose their habitats and source of food.

What is sustainable tourism development?

Sustainable tourism development in the tourism industry is achieved when sustainability principles are applied to: Economic, Social and Environmental aspects of tourism development.

The 3 dimensions need to be balanced to guarantee tourism's long-term sustainability. An overfocus on one dimension may lead to other dimensions being overlooked

How can tourism development ensure sustainable development?

1. Continual provision of employment opportunities and income growth

- Employment provided by the industry needs to ensure that locals have stable employment and source of income. Skills training should be offered to:

Ensure career progression and income growth for locals in the long term,

Provide locals who are seasonally employed with a greater variety of skills, enabling them to find employment during off-peak season.

This ensures a stable employment and income, leading to economic sustainability.

2. Increased provision of social services that raise standards of living amongst locals

- Tourism revenue can be used to build schools or clinics for the local communities in the tourist destination regions. This enables local communities, particularly the disadvantaged to receive healthcare and education opportunities, raising their standards of living. With my education opportunities, local communities can seek better employment and income. This increases the standard of living and ensures economic sustainability.

How can tourism development ensure social sustainability?

1. Respect authenticity of local communities, practices and art forms.

When the authenticity of traditional practices and art forms are respected, they continue to be meaningful and significant for local communities and tourists. This leads to continued practice and preservation by locals, ensuring social sustainability. When they are disrespected, conflicts may occur between locals and tourists, which may discourage tourism. Visitor attractions could be sensitively developed to showcase authentic local culture. Tourists may also be advised by tour guides on how they may respectful when interacting with locals and learning about local cultures.

2. Contribute to interclass understanding and tolerance

Exchanges between tourists and locals should enhance understanding, tolerance and a better appreciation towards each others' culture, enabling local cultures to be meaningful for tourists and locals, leading to continued practice and preservation of culture, ensuring social sustainability. A positive experience between tourists and locals will ensure the continuity of such exchanges and may attract more tourists to come. Negative experiences may lead to conflicts between tourists and locals, which may discourage tourism.

How can tourism development ensure environmental sustainability?

1. Maintain essential ecological processes

Ecological processes refer to the biological, physical, chemical processes that sustain ecological systems. They are crucial in providing ecosystem services, such as the supply of the natural resources and regulating water and air quality. Strong ecological processes and future demands of people can be met. This ensures environmental sustainability.

- Stakeholders in tourist destination regions can work together to minimise deforestation, helping to maintain ecological processes such as transpiration and photosynthesis, ensuring ecosystem services such as the supply of water and food are maintained, and contributes to environmental sustainability.

2. Conserve natural heritage and biodiversity

One way in which natural heritage sites are conserved involved the establishment of National Parks in the area, as threats such as illegal poaching of endangered species, enabling their population to recover. Governments can also better manage tourist numbers and the waste generated in the area, ensuring the natural beauty and biodiversity of the area is conserved, thus enabling environmental sustainability.

How can stakeholders influence sustainable tourism development?

To ensure sustainable tourism development, stakeholders such as governments, international organisations, businesses, local communities and tourists need to work together. They need to have a common understanding of what sustainable tourism development is and how it can be measured. All stakeholders should have a say and a consensus should be reached on how tourism should be developed

How effective are governments in influencing sustainable tourism development? (how they can influence)

1. Establishing policies and creating plans:

Governments can set up policies or plans that stakeholders may be required to adhere to and can help ensure minimal damage to the environment while maximising benefits to locals.

For example, in Sentosa, Singapore, the authorities bring together different stakeholders to develop a series of plans to enable the island to become more sustainable by conserving Sentosa's rich heritage, protecting the island's biodiversity and achieving carbon-neutral status

2. Enforcing regulations

Governments play a key role in enforcing regulations to ensure sustainable tourism development including enforcing regulations on the types of tourism activity and the number of tourists who can enter. It is critical to ensure that the policies and plans are adhered to. For example, in Bhutan, tourists can only enter the country by organising their trip with licenced tour operators, tasked with ensuring tourists adhere to laws and regulations to minimise the negative impacts of tourism, such as ensuring tourists only trek on designated trails.

How the effectiveness of governments may be limited in building sustainable tourism development

1. Poor enforcement

In order for regulations to be effective, active enforcement is required. Governments which lack resources or political influence, or face corruption, may not be able to ensure that regulations are adhered to and can hinder sustainable tourism development.

2. The decision to prioritise economic development

Some governments put economic development first and may neglect environmental and social dimensions of sustainability

This might hinder sustainable tourism development

For example, every year, Mount Everest receives hundreds of tourists who wish to scale up the mountain, but poor enforcement of waste disposal leads to the mountain becoming increasingly polluted. Tighter regulations have not been imposed by the Nepali authorities as it may reduce tourists affecting revenue.

How effective are international organisations(governmental and non-governmental) organisations? (how they can influence)

They often have the knowledge, financial and technical expertise to provide assistance, and can influence sustainable tourism development by offering consultancy to countries on how sustainable tourism development can be achieved, providing financial assistance to different stakeholders and raising public awareness on how they can contribute to sustainable tourism development.

For example, in handicraft villages in Ha Tay Province, Vietnam, the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, an IGO, provided the following support:

- Consultancy and technical assistance with a marketing plan developed with villagers to encourage independent travellers and tour operators to visit the villages and locals received handicraft skills to produce for tourists

- Financial assistance:

Financial aid is given to carry out small-scale infrastructural improvements such as a public toilet and a village information board to support tourism development.

For example, UNESCO has introduced the People Protecting Places programme which provides information for travellers on how to protect UNESCO World Heritage Sites as tourists. Wadi Al-Hitan, Egypt saw large tourist arrivals which threatened the safety of highly delicate fossil remains.

How the effectiveness of international organisations may be limited

1. Lack of understanding of local contexts

International organisations may comprise members from various countries and backgrounds and may have different perspectives regarding an issue and may not understand the local of places they work with. Locals may not support their actions, hindering sustainable tourism development

2. Lack of funding

Many international organisations tend to be non-profit. It may be challenging when it comes to choosing projects to provide financial assistance for. Without funding, some plans may not be able to be implemented.

How effective are businesses in influencing sustainable development?

Businesses have an incentive to pursue sustainable tourism as it can keep them profitable (e.g by protecting the environment, businesses can ensure that tourists will return, allowing businesses to thrive)

They often have the financial resources to influence sustainable tourism development. Businesses can influence sustainable tourism development by;

1. Seeking advice from other stakeholders regarding tourism development

2. Participating in decision-making for sustainable tourism development

For example, Quicksilver Cruises in Australia specialises in tours of the Great Barrier Reef. It works with the planning authorities to promote ecotourism and a research team of marine biologists to observe and monitor the marine ecosystem, which helps the planning authorities in managing the Great Barrier Reef.

How the effectiveness of businesses may be limited

1. Comprimising on sustainable practices to survive

Ultimately, businesses may prioritise profits above sustainability, which can hinder sustainable tourism development by, for instance, polluting the environment or exploiting resources.

2. Differing understanding and ways of measuring sustainability

Different businesses may have a different understanding of sustainability and how to measure it. Businesses may end up greenwashing, marketing themselves as 'sustainable' when their practices may not be so.

How effective are locals in influencing sustainable tourism development?

1. Seeking advice from other stakeholders regarding sustainable tourism practices.

Locals may not have the necessary knowledge and experience, which other stakeholders such as governments, businesses and international organisations have, to pursue sustainable tourism. By seeking advice from these stakeholders, locals can adopt sustainable tourism practices that have already been tried and tested. This will help to protect the environment and ensure that sustainable tourism can continue to grow and thrive

For example, in Singapore, locals can seek guidance from the National Environmental Agency to pursue sustainable tourism such as waste management and recycling when hosting international events, meeting and conventions.

2. Participating in decision-making

Having local knowledge, the involvement of locals in decision is critical. They can suggest ways to minimise the harmful impacts of tourism, such as protecting the flora and fauna in their local community. This can be done through community-based tourism which prioritises the participation of the local community and ensures that the benefits gained from tourism stay with the local community.

How the effectiveness of locals may be limited

1. Lack of financial or technical assistance

Some locals may not have the information on how to apply for financial or technical assistance, and therefore lack sufficient resources to carry out plans for sustainable tourism development

2. Prioritising economic benefits over sustainability

Some locals may pursue tourism practices that may not be sustainable as long as it brings in a higher income to support themselves and their families

How effective are tourists in influencing sustainable tourism development?

1. Developing a genuine interest in the tourist destination and seeking to enhance its environment, culture and economy

Tourists can choose tours or services that prioritise sustainable tourism or channel their revenue toward environmental conservation efforts. For example, at the tiger tops elephant camp in Nepal, an ethical elephant camp, elephants can walk around freely in the jungle with no routine imposed on them, allowing tourists to observe the elephants interacting in their natural state. The revenue generated by tourism is used for the conservation and upkeep of animals in the region such as tigers and elephants. It can also be used to invest in the education of local students.

Tourists can also get involved in environmental conservation or community projects that benefit the tourist destination. For example, At the sea turtle volunteering conservation programme in Costa Rica, tourists can help care for injured sea turtles and patrol the beaches for sea turtles and their nests to protect them from poachers.

2. Interacting responsibly with the environment and people when they travel

Tourists can read up on the local practices and cultures, and be mindful of their attire or behaviour when travelling as a way to show respect to the local customs and cultures. In Bali, Indonesia, tourists should be aware that they have to dress modestly when visiting religious sites and can look after the environment when travelling such as not littering or vandalising the areas they visit.

How the effectiveness of tourists may be limited

1. Some sustainable tourism option may be out their budgets --> expensive due to the costs needed to keep them sustainable, such as the fees to conserve the environment and tourists may not be keen to pay these fees

2. Lack of clear information, which may confuse tourists on the sustainable options available --> varied understandings of ''sustainable tourism'' and the ways of measuring them

What are the other challenges faced by stakeholders in influencing sustainable tourism development

1. Stakeholders may have different understandings and measurements of sustainable tourism development(differs from place to place) --> leads to a conflict of ideas

2. Stakeholders have differing amounts of control over resources --> those with more power may override the perspectives of other stakeholders, hindering sustainable tourism development

3. Stakeholders have different priorities which can make negotiation challenging --> ultimately there could be economic, social and/or environmental trade-offs that stakeholders may have to compromise and accept.

Example, The Isle of Man, United Kingdom, used to be popular tourist destination, but from the 1960s onwards, it began to decline. Conflicts between stakeholders made it difficult to revive the island especially when bringing motorcycle racing to the island(locals see it as a way to damage the environment) to boost tourism. Views were not considered seriously by planners leading to grater miscommunication and mistrust, hindering sustainable tourism development

What is ecotourism?

yEcoutourism is a form of sustainable tourism that often takes in place in natural areas which are scenic and allows for tourists to experience nature. It aims to conserve the natural environment while benefiting the local community, thus ensuring environmental, economic and social sustainability. Ecotourism often involves many stakeholders depending on the projects undertaken. The following are some of the strategies used to achieve the aims of ecotourism: - Educate and increase tourists' appreciation of nature(tours of natural areas, increases tourists knowledge and appreciation of nature, which encourages tourists to take action to conserve and minimise damage to the environment-->ensures environmental sustainability, Put in place measures to minimise the negative impacts on the environments(tourism revenue is channelled into the conservation of the natural environment such as by hiring local park rangers -- to enforce laws --> environmental damage is minimised, ensuring environmental sustainability.

For example, the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador attracts many tourists to visit for their unique flora and fauna. To conserve this unique biodiversity, 97% of the island's total area was declared a national park with only 3% for humans to live on. Authorities implemented some rules and regulations to protect the environment, such as: limiting visitors, USD$100 fee for entrance to fund conservation projects with a compulsory guide required at each site.

Locals are also involved in the ecotourism industry by offering day tours and homestays to small groups of tourists.

Hard ecotourism vs soft ecotourism

Hard ecotourism:

- Stronger commitment to environmental conservation with smaller number of tourists with few to no services provided(e.g accommodation and food) --> experience is more physically challenging and are supplied by specialist tour operators in the form of making their own travel arrangement. For example, a study found that hard ecotourists in the Galapagos Island have a higher preference for challenging activities such as camping and hiking with a planned tour schedule with an accompanying guide with staying in locals' homes as accommodation.

Soft ecotourism:

- Moderate commitment to environmental conservation with a larger number of tourists. Services are often provided and the experience is physically more comfortable. Supplied by mass-market tour operators. For example, soft ecotourists in the Galapagos Island have a higher preference for less challenging activities such as guided trail walks. Many often rely on agencies to plan whole schedule and prefer to stay in high quality accommodation including yachts and cruises.

What are limitations of ecotourism?

1. Uncertainty over the continuity of efforts in conserving nature. Ecotourism does not work when ecotours are overwhelmingly popular with tourists. The presence of many tourists interacting with nature may destroy the very environment they seek to protect and may be a strong desire to earn profits from ecotourism, and nature may not be conserved. In the Galapagos Islands, where ecotourism is practised, the large increase in the number of tourists have resulted in erosion along some trails and also caused disturbance to wildlife and plants. Oil spills from many boats have resulted in serious water pollution.

2. Uncertainty over involving local communities

Demand for manpower to meet the needs of tourists may cause some tourism-related businesses to hire non-locals. This especially so when locals are not sufficiently equipped with the skills and knowledge required, and authorities or businesses do not put in place to train locals, not maximising the benefits to local communities. For example, in Kufri, India, it was found that economic leakages occur when locals do not have necessary skills resulting in jobs going to non-locals.

Community-based tourism

Community-based tourism(CBT) is a type of innovative small-scale tourism experience that is managed by local communities. This includes homestays and agricultural tourism. It aims to maximise local communities' involvement in tourism and the benefits to them, ensuring economic and social sustainability.

1. Encourage the local community to participate in decision-making on tourism development in their community: -local communities have greater knowledge of their economic, social and environmental needs, hence their decisions can help ensure these needs are met are in a sustainable way. For example, local communities can suggest cultural and nature based experiences that can be developed without disrespecting their heritage and damaging the local environment. This ensures that locals in the tourism industry, and the environment continues to thrive and attract tourists, ensuring sustainable tourism development.

2. Put in measures to increase economic( locals are encouraged to innovate, set up businesses(e.g restuarants) and offer tourism experiences(e.g homestays) to cater to the needs of tourists-->agricultural tourism, restuarant, homestays) and social benefits(funding clinics and clinics) to local communities

3. Educate and increase tourists' appreciation of local cultures and protection of the environment. Promote interactions --> through traditional homestays in the Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary, tourists can live with a local host family, and participate in daily activities related to cultures, helps tourists appreciate the local cultures and tradttions and their environment, ensures cultural and environmental sustainability.

What are the limitations of CBT?

1. Loss of culture: Lacking sufficient measures, locals offer tourism experiences out of their cultures, it may result in commodification, result in the loss of authenticity of their cultures. For example, the CBT projects in Krygyzstan, the commodification of local traditions to suit tourists' preferences has been observed. Traditional yurts have been modified, such as the inclusion of beds and modern furniture. This is meant to increase tourists' comfort and meet the standards that they expect.

2. Competition with large-scale tourism development: Often, local communities lack some of the necessary skills and finances to further develop the local tourism industry, facing difficulty in communication with tourists and are ill-equipped to undertake marketing campaigns in order to compete with other tourism developments, especially the large-scales ones, lacking the finances to start new tourism experiences or tourism-related businesses. Large-scale tourism developments such as hotel resorts on the other hand, often have greater finances to undertake marketing campaigns(e.g advertisements) and therefore, attract more tourists. For example, the Thanh Ha Pottery Village in Vietnam has been attracting tourists who are keen to learn more about local culture and pottery practices. However, it faces competition from other more established pottery villages in Central Vietnam in attracting tourists, especially because they do not have enough highly-skilled pottery artisans.

What is pro-poor tourism

Pro-poor tourism(PPT) is an approach to tourism development that focuses on improving the livelihoods of the poor through training and access to micro-finance. It aims at generating net benefits(economic, social and environmental) and improving the livelihoods and well being of the poor.

How is pro-poor tourism achieved

- Training --> with training provided, locals will be able to learn new skills which they can then use to gain employment in the tourism sector. For instance, locals can learn how to bring tourists around or how to manage a tourism business.

- Increasing access to micro-finance --> Access to micro-finance enables the poor to set up businesses such as homestays and restaurants, thereby benefiting economically from tourism. Communication materials may be designed so that locals are able to understand how they can go about applying for micro-finance.

Any type of tourism such as CBT and ecotourism can be classified as PPT, as long as they focus on improving the livelihoods of the poor an reducing poverty. For example, Pro-poor tourism can be found in the villages around China's Three Parallel Rivers Region, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site, and are attracted to visit to enjoy the scenic views offered by the mountains and rivers as well as to experience village life. With financial assistance offered by the authorities, many villagers here have set up tourism businesses such as homestays and restaurants with some even putting up cultural performances for tourists for a living, resulting in the local community experiencing an increase in income and standard of living.

The limitations of Pro-Poor Tourism

1. The inability to significantly reduce poverty as compared to direct investment in social services.

It may be difficult to channel benefits to the poor as compared to if there were some direct investment in social services. The poor may be reluctant to participate in PPT or may lack the skills, finances and knowledge to establish and sustain their businesses. For example, in Abr, Iran, PPT has not resulted in significant economic benefits for the poorest locals as many lack self confidence to undergo training provided by the authorities. Some of the training classes require the participants to pay a small fee and many of them refrain from paying as they do not see a bright future for themselves in the industry. Hence, many continue to lack the necessary skills to participate in the tourism industry, resulting in low participation among the poor. In contrast, the non-poor locals are dominating the training and employment in the local tourism industry.

2. The economic benefits may be highly unevenly distributed, with most of the benefits being channeled to non-poor locals.

These non-poor locals may have greater access to micro-financing or financial grants used to support the local tourism industry as they are seen to be more reliable by banks, donors and authorities. Hence, the non-poor become wealthier while the poor benefit marginally, widening the income gap between the poor and non-poor. Hence, the benefits of PPT may not be substantial enough to significantly improve the lives of the poor. This might be more effective if authorities and NGOs choose to prioritise directly social services such as education and healthcare.

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